My heartbeat accelerated, and I fought to catch my breath. “Really? I mean about babies.”

“Yeah, really.” With a grin, Barrett tossed the condom over his shoulder, illustrating to me that he was really in on the baby-making.

My mind felt like it was about to short-circuit with emotions, and when Barrett leaned in to kiss me, I screeched, “Wait!”

Barrett’s brows shot up. Before he could ask what my problem was, I dove past him to retrieve one of condoms. At his puzzled look, I smiled. “Call me crazy, but after the unorthodox way our relationship started, I’d like to do things a little more normally, like not walk down the aisle in the Rose Garden at the White House with a baby bump.”

“People do have babies first.”

“I know, it’s just that we’ve done everything untraditionally, so I’d like a little tradition in my life.”

“Then I’ll suit up the Bear,” Barrett said before taking the condom from me. After sliding it on, he covered my body with his, pushing me down onto the mattress. When his hand came between my thighs, I gasped with pleasure.

As Barrett’s fingers worked their magic on me in Lincoln’s bed, I still couldn’t believe this was my life, my future. Somehow I’d been chosen to fake an engagement for political gain, and as a result I’d found my running mate for life.